Talbot Rice house

During his time here, artist Alexander Talbot Rice's ‘extraordinary adventure' has taken him from royal palaces to New York society.

‘We moved here from Barnfield in 2003 after my father died. For me, it was an absolute godsend, because before that I had painted in my studio in London. It was here that I painted the picture of The Queen, commissioned by The Worshipful Company of ronmongers,' says the 39-year-old artist, who has painted The Duke of Edinburgh three times and, last year, exhibited his paintings at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington; he is about to undertake another significant commission.

‘Although the house has a Georgian front, it is essentially 15th century and was formerly a hunting lodge to Knepp Castle.

‘It's an extraordinary place, with priest holes and a huge inglenook fireplace, stone flags and a solid oak staircase. It's a house of enormous character, with roaring log fires and lots of Labradors-elderly Barney, and Tosca, sleek and beautiful-and a wonderful garden planted by my mother.

‘It's been a very lucky house for me because I've produced some of my best work here.'

Grade II listed. 6 bedrooms, 4 reception rooms, office, studio, 4-car garaging, storage, gardens, orchard. £1.1m. Hamptons International (01403 262828)

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